utopia+project

=Utopia Project=

[ Overview ]
For this project, you will use what you've learned from your study of the dystopian societies in Anthem and Fahrenheit 451 to create your own utopia. Each team will design its own utopia; the class will then vote on which utopia shows the best planning and likelihood of success.

Your deliverables (i.e. final products) for this project are as follows:
 * A **sales pitch** (i.e. Prezi, Google Slideshow, or video) given to the class to convince them to join your utopia;
 * The **constitution** for your utopia.

Your constitution must address the following aspects of your society:
 * **Name of the society** -- This should reflect in a meaningful way the ideals of your utopia.
 * **Location** -- Choose an actual location on Earth that you think would be a viable location to start a perfect society.
 * **Mission statement** -- A brief explanation of your utopia's purpose, goals, and ideals. Look at these examples from Fortune 500 companies for ideas, and consult our lesson on creating mission statements for more detailed directions. (Consider also the preamble to the United States Constitution, which is, in a sense, our nation's mission statement.)
 * **Flag and seal --** Design a flag and seal to represent your society and symbolize its ideals. Browse examples of national flags and government seals for ideas.
 * **Governmental system** -- Explain what system of government your utopia will use and exactly how it will function. (Browse this list of governmental systems and this interactive world map to get some ideas.) Questions to consider include (but are not limited to):
 * How will a leader/leaders be chosen (e.g. elected, appointed, etc)? How long will they serve?
 * Who will make decisions about how the society is run? By what process will these decisions be made?
 * **Bill of Rights** -- Include at least ten rights that the members of your society have. As models, consider the United States Bill of Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
 * **Laws** -- Include at least ten laws that members of your society must abide by, as well as the consequences for breaking these laws.
 * **Citizenship requirements** -- Explain the requirements for citizenship in your society and the process by which people may apply to become citizens.

Your sales pitch should explain in detail the choices made in your constitution (e.g. why you chose the location you did, the meaning of the symbols in your flag and seal, the reasoning for your rights and laws, etc). It should also show your team's understanding of why the societies in //Anthem// and //Fahrenheit 451// failed.

Your team roles for this project are as follows:
 * ** Administrator: ** Keeps team on task at all times; makes sure directions are followed and requirements are met; facilitates discussions.
 * ** Advocate: ** Consider's the audience's perspective throughout the project and poses questions they may ask so that the group can address these issues.
 * ** Designer: ** Ensures the final deliverables are visually appealing and professional in appearance.
 * ** Editor: ** Checks the final deliverables for correct conventions and mechanics (i.e. spelling, punctuation, and grammar); records discussions in note form.

[ Directions ]

 * 1) Assign team roles as stated above.
 * 2) Discuss as a team the problems with the two dystopias we have examined so far (i.e. the worlds of //Anthem// and //Fahrenheit 451//). You may find it helpful to review the dystopia word collages and //Anthem/////Fahrenheit 451///Now Venn Diagrams we created in class. **Editor:** record your team's discussion in a Google Doc.
 * 3) Discuss the necessary sections of your constitution and begin brainstorming your plans. Once you have decided (through team consensus) on how your utopia will operate, begin creating your constitution. (**Administrator:** make a copy of the constitution template (found in the shared "RWWS student documents" folder) and share it with your teammates.) All teammates must participate in completing this document.
 * 4) Once your constitution is complete, begin creating your sales pitch and brochure. Keep in mind that your goal with these deliverables is to convince other teams to select your utopia as the most viable option for a successful society.
 * 5) Be ready to present your utopia design to the class.

[ Requirements ]

 * Your team must complete all of the deliverables specified above (keeping in mind the WOW rubric in doing so).
 * Your team's constitution must address each of the points listed above.
 * Your team's deliverables should be creative and professional in appearance and content.
 * Your team's deliverables should show an understanding of why the societies in //Anthem// and //Fahrenheit 451// failed.

[ Due Date and Grading ]
Your deliverables (i.e. sales pitch and constitution) will be due on **Monday, March 11.** Each deliverable is worth 250 points, making this project worth 500 points in total. Your work will be graded based on completeness, creativity, professional appearance, and evidence of understanding the dystopias we discussed in class. Conventions and mechanics will also be considered. Self and peer assessments will also be included in each individual's grade.

Portions of this project were adapted from the following source: "Utopian Lesson Plan." //North Dakota Council of Teachers of English.// North Dakota Council of Teachers of English, n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2013. .